Forest Modeling Piñata with virtual forest dynamics
All models are wrong but some are useful… for instance ForClim
Test your knowledge on forest successions by answering just few questions.
Question 1: In Switzerland there are many elevational zones, please focus on the lower montane, upper montane, high montane and subalpine ones. What are typical tree species compositions in these elevational zones?
Scheme of elevational zones of Switzerland
Choose the correct answer here
Answer 1.1: In the four elevational zones Arecaceae are present.
Oh no … better you try again!
Answer 1.2: Often, in the lower montane regions deciduous-coniferous forests are dominated by Abies alba (silver fir), Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore maple), Fagus sylvatica (beech) and Picea abies (Norway spruce).
Answer 1.3: Often, in the high montane regions typical conifer species such as Abies alba (silver fir) and Picea abies (Norway spruce) grow.
Answer 1.4: Often, in the subalpine region deciduous-coniferous forests are dominated by Betula nana (dwarf birch), Juniperus nana (dwarf juniper) and Salix caprea (goat willow).
Oh no … better you try again!
Answer 1.5: Often, in the upper montane region the tree line is dominated by Rhododendron spp. and Juniperus nana (dwarf juniper).
Oh no … better you try again!
Question 2: After 1400 simulated years, we added the effect of 100 years of climate change to our simulation of the high montane forest stand. This means that the precipitation was reduced by 40% and the temperature was increased by 4 °C. What would you expect will happen regarding the biomass productivity over time?
Choose the correct answer here
Answer 2.1: Picea abies (Norway spruce) and Abies alba (silver fir) will increase the productivity, so the total stand’s biomass will increase, because of a strong fertilization effect of \(CO_{2}\).
Oh no … better you try again!
Answer 2.2: Picea abies (Norway spruce) and Abies alba (silver fir) will decrease the productivity, so the total stand’s biomass will decrease, because of carbon starvation.
Oh no … better you try again!
Answer 2.3: Picea abies (Norway spruce) will have a larger biomass productivity decrease than Abies alba’s (silver fir) productivity will increase, so the total stand’s biomass will decrease over time.
Question 3: After 1400 simulated years, we added the effect of 100 years of climate change to our simulation of the lower montane forest stand. This means that the precipitation was reduced by 40% and the temperature was increased by 4 °C. What would you expect will happen regarding the biomass productivity over time?
Choose the correct answer here
Answer 3.1: Picea abies (Norway spruce) will decrease and all other species (Abies alba, Fagus sylvatica and Acer pseudoplatanus) will increase the productivity, so the total stand’s biomass will increase.
Answer 3.2: Picea abies (Norway spruce) and Abies alba (silver fir) will decrease the productivity, so the total stand’s biomass will decrease, because of a carbon starvation.
Oh no … better you try again!
Answer 3.3: Picea abies (Norway spruce) will decrease biomass productivity stronger than Abies alba’s (silver fir) productivity will increase, so the total stand’s biomass will decrease over time.
Oh no … better you try again!
Question 4: After 1400 simulated years, we added the effect of “low intensity” plentering to our simulation of the lower montane forest stand. This means that the target dbh was set to 60 cm and the residual basal area was 40 m2ha-1 (climate change was not included). How much will the total stand biomass be reduced after the first management intervetion?
Choose the correct answer here
Answer 4.1: All of the total stand’s biomass will be gone (similar to clear cut).
Oh no … better you try again!
Answer 4.2: 1/4 of the total stand’s biomass will be gone.
Oh no … better you try again!
Answer 4.3: 2/3 of the total stand’s biomass will be gone.
Well done! Thank’s for your interest in forest modeling.
Yours sincerely,
the FE-modelers
